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British Ferns of the late Col. A. M. Jones, F.L.S., and I 

 marvelled at their magnificent development and beauty. 



Last year I paid another visit, and called upon our 

 genial friend, Mr. Harris, the superintendent. After 

 introducing myself, and stating how interested I was in 

 British Ferns, he very kindly conducted me round the 

 gardens, giving me a short history of this or that particular 

 specimen. We were passing a long row of Scolopcndvinm v. 

 cvistatnm, when he pointed out to me how portions of 

 certain clumps had deteriorated, for in the centre of a 

 grandly crested Scolopendrium, quite normal fronds had 

 made their appearance. It seemed to me that actual 

 reversion was taking place in plants known for many 

 years to remain true to type, and yet were growing under 

 conditions of the very best. So even with the best of 

 specimens, retrogression has to be checked and eliminated, 

 or deterioration would soon become general. 



In my concluding remarks, one point I wish particu- 

 larly to emphasise, viz. that any of our members, fortu- 

 nate enough to find or raise a good thing, should have 

 sufficient interest in the progress of the British Fern cult 

 to feel that all such acquisitions belong to the British 

 Pteridological Society, but such acquisitions should be left 

 in the custody of the finder or raiser to propagate in the 

 interests of the Society, i.e. to increase and multiply as 

 early as possible, and distribute for the benefit of all 

 members sufificiently interested, who I feel sure are as 

 deeply concerned in the cultivation and preservation as the 

 originator. Personally, I have known several exception- 

 ally good things to be entirely lost through being retained 

 exclusively in the possession of one person. This is a 

 pity, for although Nature is ever prolific in change, she 

 gives no guarantee to duplicate any of her choicest 

 productions. 



Distribution may be made by the sale, exchange or gifts 



